Paul O'Sullivan-trained Disciples Twelve must be the omen tip of the festive season and he can keep his unbeaten record by winning the Yan Chai 45th Anniversary Trophy (1,200 metres) at Sha Tin this afternoon. Disciples Twelve (Derek Leung Ka-chun) probably won his debut up the straight on the score of potential talent rather than being a pure sprinter, but that was a great sign for his future. Always handy in the run, he was just left behind by the speedier leaders as they surged through that t

Paul O'Sullivan-trained Disciples Twelve must be the omen tip of the festive season and he can keep his unbeaten record by winning the Yan Chai 45th Anniversary Trophy (1,200 metres) at Sha Tin this afternoon.

Disciples Twelve (Derek Leung Ka-chun) probably won his debut up the straight on the score of potential talent rather than being a pure sprinter, but that was a great sign for his future.

Always handy in the run, he was just left behind by the speedier leaders as they surged through that tricky middle part of the 1,000m race in 20.89 seconds.

That is always the difficult area for horses which are not purely short-course gallopers in the straight races, but Disciples Twelve didn't lose his way under Douglas Whyte but kept balanced and reeled back the quick horses to win going away in the final 100m with some comfort.

It was a case of the son of Keeninsky taking to the races what he had shown at the trials, not always an easy task, but he coped well and should be all the better for the experience.

Today he moves to a 1,200-metre race around a bend, both of which should be more suitable for the four-year-old, although he does rise to Class Three and meets a couple of handy rivals. But from gate six, Disciples Twelve looks capable of laying up just off the speed, likely to be set by horses like Hi Molly and Flagship Shine, with

The Prince and Affluence Of Rain pressing forward from wider out. Whyte has certainly given a strong pointer for Disciples Twelve's major rival - presuming he had the choice - as he has opted to stay with Tony Cruz-trained Seasons Star.